Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study
the use of private contractors who perform work for the State
of West Virginia.

Whereas, The use of private contractors who perform work in
the State of West Virginia is an important issue because the State
of West Virginia is increasingly using private contractors on state
projects that employ citizens of other countries who may be located
within or outside of the United States of America; and

Whereas, The procurement of goods manufactured in the United
States, and West Virginia in particular, and of services performed
in the United States, and West Virginia in particular, would likely
benefit West Virginia by allowing increased oversight over such
goods and services and by providing employment opportunities to
West Virginians; and

Whereas, West Virginia does not collect information on its use
of private contractors, including the cost, quality of product,
citizenship and residency of its workers, and salaries and benefits
provided to its workers, that is accessible to the public; and

Whereas, It is unclear if it is in the best interest of the
State of West Virginia to use certain private contractors and
out-source work when looking at overall cost-effectiveness,
economic impact on West Virginia workers, security issues, and
quality of work; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance to study the use of private contractors who
perform work for the State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is hereby requested to study the use of private contractors
who perform work for the State of West Virginia, including which
agencies or entities of state government use private contractors,
the identity of the private contractors, the type of work they
perform, the cost and length of their contracts, how many workers
they employ to perform the work, how many of the workers are
citizens of the State of West Virginia and the United States of
America, the quality of the work and products of such private
contractors and the wages and benefits of the workers employed by
the private contractors; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2013, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.